One Training Center hosts their first USA Amateur Boxing Show

(l) Before Saturday’s show began, MMA fighter/gym owner Andy Murad posed for a photo with his trainers and friends. (r) We also have (l to r, athlete/coach) Jose Gomez, (USA Amateur Boxing President) Hondo Fontane, and Saturday’s Master of Ceremonies Donal Sayles, posing for a photo. A wordsmith of sorts, Gomez added: “Ever since I began to compete on the USA Amateur Boxing circuit, I noticed how close the boxing community is and how you can go to any school in any part of San Diego as a participant or spectator and you will always feel welcome and right at home.” So very true and so very well said.

From 1978-1986, Freddie “The Choir Boy” Roach (40-13) was a major force in professional boxing. Every time he stepped in the ring, he put on a show. Later on, as a trainer, he guided 30+ boxers to a world title. The boxers plus support staff which came to Saturday’s show from his gym sang his praises. From their gym in Hollywood, this group had to travel 154 miles and of course stay overnight at a local hotel. They also had to get up extra early in order to be on time for their 8:00 a.m. weigh-ins. Unlike most gym owners, Roach gets personally involved in the well-being of his Amateur squad and will often help sponsor their trips when they are competing.

The mascot of the Wild Card Boxing Gym is “Sheba” who is positioned front and center in front of the team’s head coach Juan “Superman” Jimenez.

USA Amateur Boxing’s LBC 44 president Hondo Fontane joins the Wild Card Boxing team as they proudly display their medals and trophies.

In Bout #1, round one, Angel Gaytan of the Azteca Warriors Boxing Club, San Ysidro, Calif. (black trunks with gold trim, 12-years-old, 93.4 lbs.) got off to a thunderous start against Gael Soler (white trunks, 12-years-old, 98 lbs.) of the United Boxing & Fitness Gym of Chula Vista, Calif. So much so, that the referee felt obliged to stop the action and issue Soler a standing eight count. The tide turned and soon it was Gaytan being issued a standing 8-count. As round two progressed, Soler had gained the upper hand. After one of their fierce exchanges, Soler caught Gaytan flush on the chin and down he went, on his back. With Gaytan getting up ever so slowly, the referee was advised by a fellow official to end the 10-count and seek immediate medical attention.

After the second round stoppage of Angel Gaytan (r) by referee Will White, we see Gael Soler (l) of United Boxing & Fitness having his arm raised in victory.

At the outset, while keeping his distance, Kevin Alvares (left) was doing a bang-up job of hitting and moving to stay out of harm’s way. As the bout progressed and Alvares slowed down, Gustavo Diaz was right there to land the harder, straighter punches to dominate the closing rounds.

After it was announced that Diaz (l) had won the decision, we see referee Will White raising the arm of the victorious Gustavo Diaz.

After dominating the action for three straight rounds and only being hit, on average, about twice per round, the victorious David Gates is shown having his arm raised in victory by referee Hondo Fontane. Photos: Jim Wyatt

Bout #4 featured several momentum swings with Omar Said (r) being more elusive and able to pick his spots while the taller Lagunes, who featured the better-leveraged and harder punches would be swinging wildly. In this close match, the judges favored the power punching coming from Lagunes.

In the top panel, we see Xavier Dozal (green trunks, white trim) setting his opponent (Francisco Vargas) up for the fully extended right cross.

(bottom photo) One Training Center invited undefeated Pro Boxer Prince “Tiger” Smalls (10-0-1, 3 KOs) from Tiger Smalls Boxing, Mission Valley to present the winning trophy to Xavier Dozal.

Bout #6 featured the master of the uppercut, Alexander Marshall (black trunks) going up against of the well-rounded Yoris Mura (red trunks). Being taller, Marshall kept firing away with these devastating uppercuts.

After awhile, Mura became more adept at countering the punches from Marshall. With their continual exchanges and many direct hits, this slugfest had everyone’s attention.

In the end, the close decision went to Yoris Mura (l) of Old School Boxing.

Bout #7 between 20-year-old John Ramirez (camouflage colored trunks, 127.4 lbs.) and 24-year-old Alberto Trujillo (blue trunks, 126.2 lbs.) was another extremely competitive match. Photo: Jim Wyatt

At the conclusion of Bout #7, it was John Ramirez (r) of the Wild Card Boxing Club having his arm raised in victory by referee Hondo Fontane.

After the announcement of his victory over Nico Marchan (l) from the House of Boxing, referee Hondo Fontane raised the arm of the victorious Anthony Caballeros (right) from the Wild Card Boxing Club.

Here we see Ali Fakhreddine (white trunks) getting full extension on his murderous, overhand right in Bout #9 versus Hassan Hanza (red trunks).

After the announcement of his victory over Hassan Hanza, Ali Fakhriddine (l) is ecstatic. This was his first fight back after an unusually long layoff.

(l to r) Super featherweight Chris Martin, who in his last fight fought for the WBC International Silver Title versus Jhonny Gonzalez, next you have his trainer, head boxing coach Sergio Melendrez from the Alliance Training Center and Frank Barajas, head boxing coach from Mando’s Boxing Club.

After the announcement of his victory, it was Javier Maldonado (left) almost jumping through the roof.

At the conclusion of Bout #12, all of Aron Avila’s coaches and stablemates from Intensity MMA & Fitness gathered around for a group photo.